Canada's Hate Crimes Legislation

Bill C-250 passed through the senate with a 59-11 vote in favor. Barely a whisper of this event was heard in the news or printed in the media. The legislation is now awaiting just the royal rubber-stamp before it becomes law.

This law adds homosexuals to the list of people protected by Canada’s hate crimes legislation.

Naturally Christians opposed this bill, believing that it would eventually lead to persecution for anyone preaching Biblical views on homosexuality. The impact of this law on free speech and freedom of religion will become apparent in the months to come.

I received the following article via email and have not been able to find a source to site for it. If you know who wrote it or where else it is posted, please let me know so I can properly cite it.

Paul Martin and his Liberal team adopted Private Member’s Bill C-250 and pushed it through the Senate to become law just in time to pave the way for a new election. Now criticism of the redefinition of marriage may be a criminal offense punishable by up to two years in prison. The president ofCanada Christian College and the Canada Family Action Coalition, Dr. CharlesMcVety states “People of faith and good will across the nation are deeplydisturbed by such draconian measures to silence religious and moral teachingrelated to sex outside marriage therefore I am urging all Canadians not tovote for Members of Parliament who passed this new law”.

The latest Compass poll “Same Sex Marriage as a Sleeper Issue” reported thatonly 31% of Canadians support Parliament legally changing the definition ofmarriage. It is painfully obvious that 31% will not elect anyone with amajority mandate. By having Bill C-250 pass the Prime Minister made surethat freedom of religion would not be exercised during his re-election bid.However Dr. McVety states that the “Charter of Rights and Freedomssupercedes Bill C-250 and promises freedom of religion, therefore people offaith are free to express their concerns. He also says a court challenge onthe validity of new law is currently being discussed and will be launched asearly as possible”.

The new law is severely flawed on many counts. Bill C-250:
1) gives protection to anti-Semitism by adding the defense “if the statement… is based on belief in a religious text”.
2) outlaws teaching that sex outside of marriage is wrong,
3) protects all types of sexual deviancies as it does not give a definitionto “sexual orientation”.
4) allows anyone to charge you with a criminal indictment. Most lawsrequire the police to levy a charge.
5) can imprison you if you are “likely” guilty. Usually evidence must provethat you are guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
6) is contradictory for it provides a legal method to attack people offaith.
7) contravenes fundamental democratic principles such as freedom ofreligion.

Dr. McVety believes the chilling effect of “Fahrenheit 451” stylelegislation is the most onerous element of this plan. Many citizens maytake heed to the threat of incarceration and not express their positions inpublic discourse. In addition he says section 320 of the criminal code willbe used extensively to remove the Bible and other scriptures from publicplaces for you cannot have “criminal” documents in a government building”.Welcome to Canada’s “Brave New World.”

Proponents of the bill say that it only gives protection for homosexuals andlesbians against hateful assault. Dr. McVety states that “this Bill is notabout violence. It only addresses speech and words in print. All people ofgood will are against violence as these concerns are already addressed inother parts of the criminal code of Canada.”

The only hope for freedom in this nation is for Canadians to stand up andvote principled Members of Parliament into office to rescind bill C-250thereby restoring fundamental democratic principles such as freedom ofreligion.

Alarmist or prophetic? Only time will tell…